Gaming Guru

Half craps tables and playing both ends of match play

I just read your newsletter and thought you might like to know that several Laughlin casinos use these half table setups every day. The Colorado Belle and Edgewater use them in the morning and maybe the whole graveyard shift. The River Palms seems to always use a half table when they have their craps table open (which seems to be only occasionally).

It is an interesting game and takes getting used to if you have never tried it.

---Brett

Dear Brett:

Thanks for the information. Believe it or not I have never played on a half table, although I have played on a tub. (I used to play in a tub when I was a child!)

For your e-mail I am giving you a free copy of my new book “The Virgin Kiss.”

All the best in and out of the casinos!

Frank Scoblete

Hi Frank,

I have been following your writings for many years and have always felt your books were well worth the money. I recently read your May 14, 2012 article in the Casino City Times, "The Ultimate Gambling Math."

If I understood the article correctly, you are stating that dice is a 0 sum game. The previous results have "0" to do with the next resulting number. I have been a long time fan and practitioner of the "5 Count." Does your article infer that since the previous results have nothing to do with upcoming results, there is no reason to wait until the "5 Count" is reached since it is a zero sum event.

Thus betting on the 3rd count, for example, is no more less nor more advantageous than waiting until the "5 Count" has been reached; or for that matter the 2 Count? Is the "5 Count" advantage only to keep up your playing time?

Thank you,Jay

Dear Jay:

The article was merely an attempt to show that when numbers that you aren’t on are hitting, it is meaningless, as if those numbers were hitting at another table or another casino or on another planet. That is the “zero” I am referring to in the article. It has nothing to do with the 5-Count.

But let me bring in the 5-Count now. You would be betting on a number or a couple or a few numbers once the 5-Count is reached. On a random roller maybe none of your numbers come up roll after roll. So what has happened to your bets in relation to the seven? Nothing. Zero.

I made the point that other numbers are irrelevant in a game of craps. The only relevant numbers are the ones you are on and the seven. If you are on the 6, you have five chances to win and six chances to lose when the 7 shows. So of the 36 possible numbers at craps, you only have to worry about the 6 and the 7. All other numbers don’t exist for your bets.

Anyway, not having read that article for a long time… darn, it was quite good!

For your e-mail I am sending you a free copy of my new book “The Virgin Kiss.”

All the best in and out of the casinos -- and never worry about the zero!

Frank Scoblete

Hi Frank,

“The Ultimate Gambling Math” was a very interesting article on craps.

Could the same be said of poker? In as much as you either have a winning hand or you don’t and if you ignore all around you and keep on betting you will win or lose.

--Stephen

Dear Stephen:

I don’t think it applies to poker because you need to fold many hands that you don’t think you can win. It isn’t a case of just waiting until the end to see if you win the pot. You can even fold on most occasions without even making a bet.

Anyway that’s how I see it.

For your letter I am sending you an autographed copy of my new book “The Virgin Kiss.”

All the best in and out of the casinos!

Frank Scoblete

Dear Frank:

My wife and I get three $5 Match Play coupons each, for even money bets, on our cruises.

I bet black and she bets red on roulette, at the same time, giving us a $5 guaranteed win (except for 0 and 00).

This gives us a $15 profit when no 0 or 00 hits.

Is this the best use of our coupons or should we just pick one color and only one of us play at a time?

This would give us a $0 to $30 profit range.

Thanks for your advice.

--James

Dear James:

First if you are playing even-money bets consider betting both ends of baccarat, banker and player (if the ships have that game) because you don’t have to worry about the 0 or 00. You are guaranteed a win.

As for roulette, you really wind up with the same situation whether you spread out your bets or bet both simultaneously. Betting both gives you a great shot at a win now but going one at a time gives you a shot at twice the money.

Your choice.

For your e-mail I am sending you a free copy of my new book “The Virgin Kiss.”

This article is provided by the Frank Scoblete Network. Melissa A. Kaplan is the network's managing editor. If you would like to use this article on your website, please contact Casino City Press, the exclusive web syndication outlet for the Frank Scoblete Network. To contact Frank, please e-mail him at fscobe@optonline.net.

Frank Scoblete is the #1 best selling gaming author in America. His newest books are Slots Conquest: How to Beat the Slot Machines; Everything Casino Poker: Get the Edge at Video Poker, Texas Hold'em, Omaha Hi-Lo and Pai Gow Poker!; Beat Blackjack Now: The Easiest Way to Get the Edge; Casino Craps: Shoot to Win!; Cutting Edge Craps: Advanced Strategies for Serious Players; Casino Conquest: Beat the Casinos at Their Own Games! and The Virgin Kiss.

Frank and Casino City Times columnist Jerry "Stickman" teach private lessons in dice control. Frank's books are available at Amazon.com, in bookstores or by mail order. Call 1-800-944-0406 or write to Frank Scoblete Enterprises, PO Box 446, Malverne, NY 11565. Frank can also be reached by email at fscobe@optonline.net.

Frank Scoblete Websites:

Books by Frank Scoblete:

Frank Scoblete is the #1 best selling gaming author in America. His newest books are Slots Conquest: How to Beat the Slot Machines; Everything Casino Poker: Get the Edge at Video Poker, Texas Hold'em, Omaha Hi-Lo and Pai Gow Poker!; Beat Blackjack Now: The Easiest Way to Get the Edge; Casino Craps: Shoot to Win!; Cutting Edge Craps: Advanced Strategies for Serious Players; Casino Conquest: Beat the Casinos at Their Own Games! and The Virgin Kiss.

Frank and Casino City Times columnist Jerry "Stickman" teach private lessons in dice control. Frank's books are available at Amazon.com, in bookstores or by mail order. Call 1-800-944-0406 or write to Frank Scoblete Enterprises, PO Box 446, Malverne, NY 11565. Frank can also be reached by email at fscobe@optonline.net.

Books by Frank Scoblete:

Casino City is an independent directory and information service free of any gaming operator's control.
Warning: You must ensure you meet all age and other regulatory requirements before entering a
Casino or placing a wager. There are hundreds of jurisdictions in the world with Internet access and
hundreds of different games and gambling opportunities available on the Internet.
YOU are responsible for determining if it is legal for YOU to play any particular games or place any
particular wager.